Curling up with a glass of wine with a story has never been easier thanks to Librottiglia, a project that wraps printed pages around bottles of Italian reds and whites.

Each wine is paired with a specifically selected literary short intended to match the characteristics of the vintage with an appropriate genre and narrative. Drinkers are encouraged to pour a glass then pour over the pages of a unique tale.

Designed by Reverse Innovation for the Matteo Correggia winery in Italy, each 375-ML bottle is good for two glasses and an absorbing literary adventure. The covers in each case double as both book titles as well as wine labels and descriptions.

A piece of twine wraps the book to each bottle while the words themselves are printed on a thick paper stock to round out the stylized packaging. Stories include The Frog in the Belly, I Love You Forget Me and others by journalists, humorists and mystery writers.

“Today we read books on computers, tablets and mobile phones,” note the creators. “Why not on a bottle of wine?” they ask. “After years of discussion about analogue vs. digital, we want to propose an alternative: oenological” (meaning: related to the cultivation and study of wine).

High-tech looking spiral wine cellars that either blend into the floor or glow with colored lights will entice even non-oenophiles to take up collecting Cabernet. A company called Spiral Cellars offers prefabricated cellars in traditional and modern designs that can be inserted into the floor of nearly any home, even if you don’t have an existing basement or cellar.

The water-tight, cylindrical system can store up to 1,900 bottles of wine. Because it relies on the surrounding earth for its insulation, and comes equipped with an air-flow system, it doesn’t require any power to keep the wine at a constant temperature. The system was inspired by a spiral staircase from 1844 found at the Pont du Gard aqueduct in France.

Wood-paneled doors practically disappear in a wood floor, especially the recessed trap doors that can be covered in timber, engineered wood or laminate flooring to match the rest of the room. Others are made to be seen, with LED lights that make them glow like some kind of space ship portal.

Some of the doors are motorized, so they pop up at the press of a button. A retractable round glass trap door features two semi-circular glass panels that swivel over each other to open. Craving wine yet?

It’s easy to get a collection of corks piling up on the kitchen counter, but it’s not that easy to figure out what to actually do with them. Some fantastic artists and home decorators have conspired to give new life to an overlooked byproduct.

(Images via wicanderscorkoakblog, wicanderscorkoakblog, nola, zimbio)

Wall art out of corks is probably the most doable for the average design-conscious resident. With a little bit of glue and a sense of adventure, a room can have a unique touch that guests will undoubtedly enjoy.

(Images via orlandowineguide, corktruck, odditycentral)

One can always go to an extreme and take the love for cork on the road. The Cork Truck is a local celebrity in its own right.

(Images via ripleys, scottgundersen, catersnews)

Anyone who is a fan of old school arcade games and pixel art will get a kick out of these amazing portraits made out of corks. For a more in-depth look into the artistic process, here’s a video to show how one goes about putting together such an intricate creation: Cork Portrait

(Images via robotnine, thecontaminated)

The warm colors of thousands of corks look wonderful en masse. This wine-inspired mural is one of the largest, and is notable for its size, color range, and appealing design.

(Images via dailyartmuse, inhabitat, homepropertydesign, ecofriend, modernchairdesign, soulofamerica)

Get something back on all those wine purchases! Make some modern furniture out of cork to turn garbage into a slick design.

(Images via blogyourwine, blogyourwine)

Yes, these people have gone too far. But hey, there’s no better way to be a hit with all your wine-loving friends than to show up to a dinner party wearing a cork jacket (except bringing more wine).

(Images via corktruck, homewetbar, housefullofpretty)

Some cork accessories are more manageable for the average homeowner, and can add a classy feel with a little bit of ingenuity, or the right accessories.

(Images via housefullofpretty, freshmom, winestuffs)

If one is a more ambitious DIY creator, a nice cork lamp would be a great touch to the home. The glow is warm like a jack-o-lantern, without the creepy factor.

(Images via cconzemius, ninja-gear, vedderimaging)

These Asian-inspired cork sculptures are incredibly fragile and a great testament to the fact that artistic skill is still very strong in modern society.

Much of the enjoyment of wine is in the selection.  Whether you are a casual drinker or a wine connoisseur, the process of picking a bottle of wine is made more exciting by the packaging.  Wine labels that catch our attention are the ones with beautiful artwork, sleek and elegant designs or the clever use of humor.

Traditional and Vintage

(images via: fotobank, dkimages, springdaleark, allposters, gayleforcedesign)

Traditional wine labels are elegant and refined, as you might expect the wine inside the bottle to be.  The packaging is highly functional, though more utilitarian than visually exciting.  Coat of arms or family crests often grace these labels, giving them their “strictly business” or historic appearance.  While traditional and vintage wine labels are often attractive and appealing in their own right, there is no hint of marketing.  These labels seem to let the integrity and reputation of the winery speak for itself.

Coming On Strong: Typography

(images via: annachang, oldog_oltrix, jettag, yandle, basykes)

Designers who make use of typography, and do it well, can make a visual impact solely through the arrangement and composition of words.  No graphics or logos are necessary in these types of designs, as the text itself is artistic.  Great use of typography creates and conveys a feeling within the text that reaches far beyond the simple meaning of the words.  Whether subtle and understated or basic and bold, typography is an effective creative design tool.

A Humorous Flavor

(images via: pinotlaw, biskuit, cogito ergo imago, uzvards, lucianvenutian, nikibrown, stuff4restaurants)

A sense of humor can go a long way in creating a marketable design.  There are a sea of choices when shopping for wine, and for the casual wine drinker, the selection may come down to a label that comes with a laugh.  You may be driven by curiosity to purchase a wine that labels itself “substandard,” or buy a wine named after the back end of a horse as a party prop.  Labels that seem to let us in on a running joke grab our attention.

Creative Beauty and Style

(images via: vinopronto, coroflot, jldfineheart, liqurious, Mary Witzig, geoffcloake, nikibrown, designer-daily )

Some wine labels are incredible works of art.  These labels are so beautiful; it can be a challenge for the wine to outshine its packaging.  Existing works of art by famous artists are sometimes incorporated into a label design, and bring a sense of familiarity to the label.  Other wineries use images, original artwork and sleek design to craft the masterpiece on the outside of the bottle.

Form, Function and Elegance

(images via: roseflash, wikimedia)

Braille wine labels are exceptionally beautiful to look at and serve a vital purpose for those who cannot see them.  When design and function work in harmony, the effect can be incredible.  Wine labels that present the brand in an elegant and useful way are on target and connect with consumers.

Party Animals

(images via: idahostatesman, robin.elaine, Egan Snow)

Animals often make appearances on wine labels.  Sometimes man’s best friend is the party animal, while other times silly monkeys come out to play.  The choice of animal on the label may be used to convey a message about the wine.  Wild horses convey a freedom, perhaps a subtle symbol of the loss of inhibitions.  A great white shark can signify something far bolder.

Pop Art

(images via: bangitout, miss_rogue, deviantart)

Who doesn’t love pop art?  Wines that display colorful, gritty and slightly disturbing art on the labels are often hard to pass up.  The art may have nothing to do with the wine, but even with this complete disconnection it works.  We are drawn into the drama and exaggerations these labels.  On a literal level, pop star Madonna graces the label of her namesake wine.

A Collection of Memories

(images via: grape-nutz, wineenthusiast)

If you’re a wine enthusiast, scrapbooker or just someone who likes to keep a record of good times, you might want to remove the wine labels from the bottles and save them as part of a collection.  There are methods of removing wine labels without damaging them so that you can treasure your memories.  Exceptionally good wine labels may be suitable for framing, while others can be kept in a scrapbook with the story behind the label.